A grand debate at the general assembly of the Houyhnhnms, and how it was determined. The learning of the Houyhnhnms. Their buildings. Their manner of burials. The defectiveness of their language.
Approximately three months before my departure, a grand assembly was held, which my master attended as the representative of our district. Upon his return, he provided a detailed account of the only debate that ever occurred in their history: whether or not the Yahoos should be completely exterminated from the face of the earth.
One member argued strongly for their destruction, describing the Yahoos as the most filthy and malicious creatures nature had ever produced. He mentioned an ancient tradition that Yahoos were not native to the land but had appeared many ages ago on a mountain—perhaps born from the corruption of mud and slime. These original brutes had multiplied so rapidly that they soon infested the entire nation. Eventually, the Houyhnhnms had been forced to hunt them, keeping only a few young ones in captivity to use for labor. The speaker argued that the Houyhnhnms had been imprudent to rely on Yahoos when the ass—a far more graceful, manageable, and pleasant-smelling animal—could perform the same tasks.
My master then proposed an alternative solution, which he had secretly borrowed from our many conversations. He suggested that the first Yahoos had likely been driven across the sea and, once abandoned, had gradually degenerated into the savage state they now displayed. To support this, he spoke of me—his "wonderful Yahoo"—noting that while I possessed the body of a Yahoo, I was more civilized due to a small amount of reason. He then suggested a method used in my country to tame horses: castrating the young. He argued that this would not only make the Yahoos more manageable but would also, within a generation, lead to the peaceful extinction of the species. In the meantime, he urged the assembly to encourage the breeding of asses.
While my master shared much of the council’s proceedings with me, he concealed one specific detail regarding my own fate. I would soon feel the tragic consequences of that hidden decision, which marked the beginning of my final misfortunes in that land.
As the Houyhnhnms have no written language, all their knowledge is preserved through oral tradition. Because they are a people united by reason and virtue, and are entirely cut off from the corruption of foreign trade, their history remains simple and easy to remember. They are remarkably healthy and have no need for physicians, though they possess an excellent knowledge of herbal medicines to treat accidental injuries. They calculate the passing of time by the revolutions of the sun and moon, but they have no interest in the complex subdivisions of weeks or the intricate details of astronomy that we value so highly.
In poetry, however, they excel beyond all other mortals. Their verses are characterized by precise descriptions and beautiful metaphors, usually focusing on friendship, benevolence, or the achievements of those who excel in physical exercises. Their buildings, though simple, are perfectly designed to protect them from the elements. They use sharp flints as tools to create structures made of wooden stakes and woven straw.
I was constantly amazed by the dexterity of their forefeet; I once saw a white mare thread a needle using the joint between her pastern and hoof. They perform all necessary labor—milking cows, reaping oats, and crafting earthen vessels—with similar skill.
To a Houyhnhnm, death is a natural and painless transition. Unless they meet with an accident, they die only of old age, usually between seventy and seventy-five. They face the end of life with total tranquility, expressing neither joy nor grief. I recall a friend of my master who died one morning; his widow arrived at our house later that day and apologized for her lateness, explaining quite cheerfully that her husband had just "retired to his first mother." She stayed for the visit, behaving with the same composure as the rest of us, and passed away herself just three months later.
Their language reflects their virtuous nature. They have no words to express anything evil, except those they borrow from the name of the Yahoo. For example, if a servant is foolish or the weather is particularly foul, they simply add the word "Yahoo" as a suffix to describe the defect.
I could write at great length about the virtues of these excellent people, but for now, I must move on to relate the events of my own sad catastrophe.